Critical News for Coastal Clients
August 23, 2007
Group petitions states to add oceans to list of 'impaired' waterways
A conservation organization has requested that Alaska and six other states
add two bodies of water to their list of impaired waterways: the Pacific
and Atlantic oceans.
Read
the
article in the Juneau Empire, August 16, 2007 edition
August 31, 2006
Science Supports Ecosystem-based Management and
Marine Conservation
Results published in June 2006 edition of Science provide detailed
historical baselinesand quantitative targets for ecosystem-based management
and marine conservation.
Download
the
article (PDF, 200kb)
July 10, 2006
Alaska Native Activist Declares Fast
Native rights activist and former gubernatorial candidate Desa Jacobsson began
fasting Saturday to protest the state's handling of subsistence issues in Alaska's
coastal zones and what she described as disrespectful behavior by one state official
toward villagers.
Read the story by Tataboline Brant,
Anchorage Daily News, july 9, 2006
November 21, 2005
AWCRSA submits Final Draft Plan Amendment
AWCRSA has submitted the Final Draft Coastal Management Plan Amendment to the
Office of Project Management and Permitting in the Alaska Department of Natural
Resources.
Review the submittal.
October 3, 2005
Chas Dense to leave Alaska Coastal Management
Program November 30
Chas, a Natural Resource Specialist, has worked with the ACMP since 1993 filling
a variety of roles including review of district plans, revision of the ABC List
(twice), negotiation of MOUs with federal agencies, work on the Bering Sea Ecosystem
Project, writing Guidebooks, revision of the coastal zone boundaries atlas, and
work on the ever-evolving ACMP information system.
Chas' dedication, enthusiasm and talent will be sorely missed at the ACMP. Chas and wife Cristi plan to finish a house in Montana during the upcoming year and then return to Juneau rested and re-energized and looking for gainful employment. Juneau is the couple's permanent home.
September 27, 2005
Feds Approve Alaska Coastal Management Program
Public Comments on New ACMP
Plan to be Accepted Until Nov. 7
"The state’s plan for an improved coastal zone management
program is another step closer to implementation after a draft federal environmental
impact statement identified Alaska’s amendments as the preferred alternative,
Governor Frank H. Murkowski said today.
Read State of Alaska Press Release at http://gov.state.ak.us/archive.php?id=1949&type=1
September 5, 2005
Hurrican Katrina highlights need for coastal management
"Hurricane Katrina took only a few hours to rip through New Orleans on
Monday, but the city's vulnerability was in the making
for years. Soaring ambitions to tame nature, misplaced priorities and
denial contributed to the damage. The simple fact is: It didn't have
to be this bad, and the nation has much to learn from the city's mistakes."
Read USA
Today Editorial at http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20050902/edtwo02.art.htm
September 4, 2005
Announcing Kuskokwim Watershed Organizational
Summit September 27 and 28, 2005 at Yupiit Piciryarait Cultural Center
in Bethel, Alaska
All Stakeholders Invited: planners, policy makers, developers, miners,
energy providers, land owners, fish processors, transportation industry,
permitters, engineers, scientists, biologists, sports, commercial and
subsistence fishers, and concerned citizens. You are invited to
attend an organizational Summit Meeting in
the formation of a Kuskokwim watershed council. All users,
individuals or groups that have an interest in the future of the Kuskokwim
drainage are welcomed to attend. For more information: http://www.cenaliulriit.org/watershed_council.htm
August 17, 2005
Final Draft Plan Amendment for the City of Cordova
Coastal Management Plan turned in to the Alaska Department of
Natural Resources Office of Project Management & Permitting
View Plan
August 15, 2005
Kuskokwim Watershed Summit, September 27 and 28,
2005, Yupiit Piciryarait Cultural Center
The Cenaliulriit Coastal Resource Service Area secured funding from the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration through the Coastal Impact Assistance
Program for this first ever two day Watershed Summit. The project began as a
subsistence mapping project.
View
news release by John Oscar, Program Director, Cenaliulriit Coastal Resource Service
Area.
July 7, 2005
ACMP Supplemental Federal Register
Notice
The federal Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM) published
a supplemental Federal Register notice today about the ACMP Environmental Impact
Statement. It contained several corrections. View Supplemental Information.
Friday, July 1, 2005
LaRoche+Associates Retained by Jefferson County
Marine Resources Committee
LaRoche+Associates has been retained by the Jefferson
County Marine Resources
Committee to provide project management and coordination services. In addition
to managing the Olympia Oyster Restoration, Anchor-Free Eelgrass Protection Zone
and Shoreline Alternatives projects, LaRoche+Associates will
provide website and grant writing assistance, and coordinate with the
Discovery Bay Stewardship Program. LaRoche+Associates will partner with the
Port Townsend Marine Science Center on the Olympia Oyster Project.
Thursday, June 30, 2005
OCRM Issues Preliminary Approval for ACMP
OCRM Issues Preliminary Approval of ACMP Amendments.The June 27, 2005 letter
from OCRM and the DNR press release can be viewed and downloaded at the ACMP
web site at http://www.alaskacoast.state.ak.us/OCRM/06-30-05/06-30-05.htm
Friday, June 24, 2005
NOAA Announces Intent to Prepare an EIS for ACMP
Changes
The National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA), U.S. Department of Commerce announces its notice of intent to
prepare an EIS for the proposed approval of amendments to the Alaska Coastal
Management Program. For more information and the scoping meeting schedule
Download the federal register notice (PDF, 48kb)
Friday, June 24, 2005
DNR Preparing Legal Opinion Regarding CRSA Authorities
Alaska Department of Law will prepare a formal legal opinion in response to
questions concerning the authority of CRSA's to designate lands and waters of
the coastal zone. The opinion is not expected to be issued until later
this summer.
Read the Aleutians
West CRSA request (PDF,
15kb)
See our AWCRSA web page:
http://www.larocheandassociates.com/Projects/awcrsa/awcrsa.html
Thursday, June 9, 2005
Bush seeks expansion of offshore fish farms
Plan stirs debate about balancing demand, environmental impact
Wednesday, June 8, 2005,
By ROBERT MCCLURE,
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER
Calling fish farming a potential boon for consumers and the economy, the Bush
administration yesterday proposed to massively expand the practice to waters
as far as 200 miles offshore.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/227623_fishfarms08.html
Thursday, June 2, 2005
On June 2, 2005, the State of Alaska, Department of
Natural Resources
(DNR) submitted to the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management
(OCRM) a request to amend the Alaska Coastal Management
Program (ACMP) under
15 C.F.R. 923.81. The amendment request documents can be viewed and
downloaded at the ACMP web site at http://www.alaskacoast.state.ak.us/
Wednesday, June 1, 2005
Sara Hunt, Alaska Coastal Resource Manager, Announces
Her Retirement
Read Sara's
retirement letter. (PDF, 36 kb)
Friday, May 20, 2005
The City and Borough of Juneau submits written
comments to The Department of Natural Resources regarding the State of Alaska
's submission of an amendment request to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) regarding the Alaska Coastal Management Program. Download PDF (156
kb)
The Lake and Peninsula Borough submits written comments to The Department of Natural Resources regarding the State of Alaska 's submission of an amendment request to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) regarding the Alaska Coastal Management Program. Download PDF (40 kb)
Friday, May 20, 2005
Tell the Governor What Kind of a Coastal Program You Want
The Alaska Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
will hold an important public hearing about the ACMP on Friday, May 20.
This hearing is required by the federal
government as they begin their review of changes to the ACMP.
The Alaska DNR public hearing will be held in Anchorage with connections to all
Legislative Information Offices. The hearing begins at 8:30 a.m. More details
at:
http://www.alaskacoast.state.ak.us/OCRM/04-20-05PublicNotice.htm
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
Subject: Coastal Management Bill - Status
Senate Bill 102, extending the state standards and district plan submission deadlines
(to name but two provisions), passed this evening
(Tuesday May 10). With the passage of the final version of the bill in
both the House and Senate, SB 102 will be forwarded to the Governor for his consideration
and signing.
Monday, May 2, 2005
Senate Finance Hearing on SB 102 postponed.
Senate Resources Committee
adopted a committee substitute for SB 102 and passed the bill out of committee
last week. The committee substitute responds favorably to coastal district requests
by extending the deadline for
submittal of revised coastal district plans to 6 months from final federal approval
of changes to the ACMP. In addition, it extends the deadline for sunset of district
plans to when DNR approves a new plan and extends the sunset date for the statewide
standards to after federal approval of the ACMP changes. See
bill history on-line
Sunday, May 1, 2005
Ketchikan Borough Seeks Reaction To Draft Coastal Plan
Sitnews, Stories in the News, Ketchikan, AK
http://www.sitnews.us/0505news/050105/050105_coastal_plan.html
Tuesday, April 26, 2005
Prospect of a Mine Near a Salmon Fishery Stirs Worry in Alaska
By LISA W. DREW, Published: April 26, 2005 in New York
Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/26/science/earth/26mine.html
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
Murkowski asks for coastal zone deadline extension
Read KINY Radio News at:
http://www.kinyradio.com/juneaunews/the_week/wednesday.html
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
HB 146 COASTAL MANAGEMENT BILL House State Affairs
hearing CANCELLED.
Monday, April 18, 2005
Governor Hails Coastal Management Progress
Governor Hails Coastal Management Progress Feds recognize state’s
right to manage shoreline resources, Governor to work with Legislature
on extending timeline for district plans
View
the Press Release
Monday, April 18, 2005
HB 146 COASTAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS will be heard
in House State Affairs on Thursday, April 21st at 8:00 a.m.
View the Bill
Monday, April 18, 2005
Kenai Peninsula and MatSu Boroughs Release Public
Hearing Drafts
The Kenai Peninsula and MatSu Boroughs invite comments on the
Public Hearing Draft of their revised coastal management plans.
The deadline
for the receipt of all written comments is May 12, 2005 for Kenai and
May 9, 2005 for the MatSu.
Review Kenai Revised Public
Hearing Draft
Review MatSu Revised Public
Hearing Draft
Monday, April 18, 2005
NOAA letter and Governor Frank Murkowski's update
for coastal districts are posted on the ACMP web site
ACMP Web Site with 2 Letters
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
Letter from the Alaska
Coastal District Association setting the record straight on the time
lines for the Coastal Districts
to comply with the requirements of 2003 HB 191 and asking your consideration
for a 6 month extension of the deadline of July 1, 2005 and July 1, 2006.
Review ACDA Letter
Friday, April 8, 2005
Sylvia Kreel Resigns from State Office of Project
Managment and Permitting
Ms. Kreel's last day will be May 6, 2005. She
has accepted an environmental planner job with USKH.
Sylvia's Resignation Letter
Friday, April 8, 2005
Lake and Peninsula Borough Public Hearing Draft
Released
The Lake and Peninsula Borough invites comments on the Public
Hearing Draft of the revised Sitka Coastal Management Plan. The deadline
for the receipt of all written comments is Friday April 29, 2005.
Review Revised Public Hearing
Draft
Friday, April 8, 2005
State of Alaska Responds to OCRM Regarding ACMP
The State of Alaska has issued a response to the Office of Ocean
and Coastal Resource Management's (OCRM) March 25, 2005 letter regarding
the
remaining approval issues for the Alaska Coastal Management Program
(ACMP). The State's response available
for
downloading at the ACMP web site at www.alaskacoast.state.ak.us.
Friday, April 8, 2005
Lake and Peninsula Borough Public Hearing Draft
Released
The Lake and Peninsula Borough invites comments on the
Public Hearing Draft of the revised Sitka Coastal Management Plan. The
deadline for the receipt of all written comments is Friday April 29,
2005.
Review Revised Public Hearing
Draft
Thursday, April 7, 2005
Senate committee kills coastal bill. Article
by ELIZABETH BLUEMINK of the Juneau Empire.
Read
Article Online
Wednesday, April 6, 2005
Coastal Planner and Educator, Katharine Heumann
of OPMP, resigns. Katharine's last day will
be May 2, 2005.
Download Story
Tuesday, April 5, 2005
SB 102 will be a heard in Senate
Resources on Wednesday
April 6th at 3:30 PM in BUTROVICH 205 -- Testimony <Invitation Only>
See
Bill Online
Friday, April 1, 2005
Letter from Coastal District Association to OCRM.
Download the Letter
Thursday, March 31, 2005
Letter from Jim Clark, Office of the Governor
Chief of Staff, and Tom Irwin, DNR Commissioner, thanking coastal districts
for participation.
Visit ACMP web site.
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
KTUU publishes story about State-District Meeting
in Anchorage."A closed-door meeting
was held Wednesday between members of the Murkowski administration and
representatives of the state's 27 coastal-management zones."
Visit KTUU's web site
Monday, March 28, 2005
Cook Inlet Keeper Responds to State of Alaska. "Attached
please find a letter recently faxed to the Governor regarding the Alaska
Coastal Management Program. While
the concerns expressed in the letter are not new, I reiterate them at
this time with the hope the Murkowski Administration can find a way to
promote sensible coastal policies that will benefit all Alaskans." –Bob
Shavelson
Download the Letter
Monday, March 28, 2005
OCRM Responds to State of Alaska."We
believe both State and national objectives can be met in revising the
Alaska Coastal Management Program."
-Richard W. Spinrad, Ph.D.,
Assistant Administrator, OCRM
Download the Letter
Friday, March 25, 2005
Alaska Department of Natural Resources Response
to the Alaska Coastal District Association's March 4, 2005 Letter."If
OCRM does not withdraw its unauthorized intervention into Alaska's program,
DNR has no choice but to allow the ACMP to expire in the summer of 2005."
-Randy Bates, Deputy Director, OPMP
Download the Letter
Thursday, March 17, 2005
Thomas Irwin, Commissioner of Alaska DNR, submits
letter to OCRM.
Download the Letter
Tuesday, March 15, 2005
Story in Juneau Empire
"Communities ask Legislature for
delay on coastal program overhaul
The overhaul of the program is set to take place July 2006.
Local districts now must submit their revised local policies to the
state Department
of Natural Resources by July to come into compliance with the new state
program. But representatives of the coastal districts say they do not
have enough time or the resources necessary to revamp their local plans."
Read
this story in the 3/15/05 Juneau Empire by Timothy Inklebarger, The
Associated Press.
Tuesday, March 8, 2005
Senate Bill 102 extending the ACMP plan revision
deadline until July 1 2006, will be heard Monday March 14th
at 1:30 pm in Senate Community and
Regional Affairs Commitee Beltz Committee Room, Rm. 211 of the Capitol,
Juneau. If there is a Legislative Information Office (LIO) in your
community, you may sign up to testify when you arrive. If you do not
have an LIO,
the phone number for testimony is 1-800-395-5073.
View
the bill online.
Monday, March 7, 2005
Commentary on Alaska Coastal Management Program
& Subsistence by John Oscar.
John
Oscar is the Coastal Coordinator for the Cenaliulriit
Area that serves the Yukon-Kuskokwim Area. He has written an article about how
changes to the ACMP impact subsistence activities.
Download the Article
Monday, March 7, 2005
Coastal District Association seeks clarification
of correspondence between OCRM/NOAA and the State of Alaska. The
Alaska Coastal District Association has submitted a letter addressed
to Bill Jeffres, Director, Office of Project Management and Permitting
requesting clarification on the Alaska Coastal Management Program.
"In view of the recent exchange of letters between OCRM and the state, many districts are confused regarding how best to proceed in the revisions of our local plans. While we have many questions regarding recent events, we have narrowed them down to a basic few that need to be addressed." Download the letter
Friday, March 4, 2005
NOAA's response to Governor Murkowski's February
23, 2005 letter to OCRM.
Download NOAA Response Letter PDF
Friday, March 1, 2005
Letter to the Juneau Empire Editor about Alaska
Coastal Management Program.
Read the Letter
Tuesday, March 1, 2005
House State Affairs Committee introduced HB 189
extending the ACMP Coastal District Plan revision deadline to one year
after OCRM approval of the revised program. House State Affairs
Committee introduced HB 189 extending the ACMP Coastal District Plan
revision deadline to one year after OCRM approval of the revised program.
This bill was referred to the Community and Regional Affairs, State Affairs,
and Resources Committees. View
the bill online.
Monday, February 28, 2005
Threat to pull out of coast plan. State
wants feds to approve its coastal management rules
By ELIZABETH BLUEMINK, JUNEAU EMPIRE
"Local governments and some state legislators are worried that if Gov.
Frank Murkowski pulls the state from a coastal management program, Alaska
would lose its influence over federal projects."
Read
the rest of this article online
Friday, February 25, 2005
Coastal Zone Management Program in Danger of Dissolving
By Johanna Eurich, KDLG , DILLINGHAM, AK - APRN Web Site
"The state's coastal zone management program is on the brink of dissolving
over an impasse between state and federal bureaucrats. The program was
intended to streamline permitting to balance the needs of developers
with protecting the state's vast coastline."
Listen
to an MP3 of this story online at APRN web site
Friday, February 25, 2005
Alaska Coastal Program in the News. Paula
Dobbyns,
Anchorage Daily News, 2/25 and Hal Spence, Kenai Peninsula Clarion, 2/22
wrote articles about the Alaska Coastal Management Program. You can register
to read these stories (may require a fee) at www.adn.com and www.peninsulaclarion.com
Thursday, February 24, 2005
Alaska House State Affairs Oversight Hearing on
ACMP.
The House State Affairs held an oversight hearing on the Alaska Coastal Management
Program on Thursday, February 24th, at 8:00 a.m. Testimony was by
invitation only and included DNR, Tom Lohman - North Slope Borough, Peter
Freer – City
and Borough of Juneau, Mayor Glen Alsworth – Lake and Peninsula Borough,
Dan Bevington – formerly of Kenai Peninsula Borough, Thede
Tobish – Municipality
of Anchorage, John Oscar – Ceñaliulriit Coastal Resource Service
Area and Karol Kolehemainen – Aleutians West Coastal Resource Service Area
. Written Testimony was also submitted by Eldon Hout – OCRM/NOAA.
- Testimony from Mayor Glen Alsworth, Lake & Peninsula Borough
- Testimony from Eldon Hout, Director, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, NOAA
- Testimony from Karol Kohlemainen, Coastal Program Director for Aleutians West CRSA
- Testimony from John Oscar, Coastal Coordinator for Cenaliulriit CRSA
- Testimony from Peter Freer, City and Borough of Juneau
Wednesday, February 23, 2005
State of Alaska responds to OCRM regarding the
Alaska Coastal Management Program. In this letter
Governor Murkowski says, "Therefore, if OCRM does not immediately abandon
the new requirements and broken promises contained in its January 28,
2005, decision, the ACMP will expire by operation of law in the summer
of 2005."
Find Governor Murkowski's 5-page letter and a letter from Alaska Commissioners
online
at: http://www.alaskacoast.state.ak.us/
Wednesday, February 23, 2005
AWCRSA first to release public hearing draft for
comment under new state laws. LaRoche + Associates
and Karol Kolehmainen of the Aleutians West CRSA are initiating the public
review of the Draft Coastal Management Plan. Take a look at AWCRSA plan
and public review documents online
at: http://www.larocheandassociates.com/Projects/awcrsa/a_dwnldfeb05.html
Monday, February 14, 2005
Senate Majority Leader Gary Stevens (R) – Kodiak
introduced Senate Bill 102 extending the ACMP plan revision deadline
until July
1 2006. SB 102 was referred to the Senate Community and Regional
Affairs Committee and the Resources Committee.
View the
bill online at: http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_bill.asp?session=24&bill=SB102
Representative Beth Kerttula
(D) – Juneau introduced
HB 146 extending the ACMP plan revision deadline and related deadlines
tied to OCRM approval of the revised program. This bill was
referred to the House State Affairs and Resources Committees.
View the
bill online.
Thursday, February 10, 2005
Alaska House State Affairs to Hold Oversight Hearing on ACMP
The
House State Affairs will be holding an oversight hearing on the Alaska
Coastal
Management Program (focusing on federal and state plan consistency,
and state and district plan consistency) on Thursday, February 24th,
at 8:00 a.m. The meeting will be teleconferenced. Given
time constraints, testimony will be invitation only. Testifiers
will be contacted individually.
For more information contact:
Louie Flora
HouseStateAffairs Committee Aide,
Representative Paul Seaton
(907) 465-4963
Friday, January 28, 2005
OCRM responds to State’s December 16 revised proposed Alaska
Coastal Management Program raising approval and timing issues
See the Alaska Coastal Management Program
Web Page
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
The City and Borough of Juneau sends letter to their legislative
delegation requesting an extension of the deadline
for having local coastal management policies approved. Without an extension,
Juneau officials
say they might be unable to revise their local coastal management plan.
Download
a Copy of the City and Borough of Juneau Letter [PDF, 164 kb]
Friday, January 21, 2005
House State Affairs Committee Postpones Overview
of Changes
to Alaska Coastal Management Program
Friday, December 24, 2004
President Bush Creates Committee on Ocean Policy
Newport
News Times Article (12/24/04)
Executive
Order (12/17/04)
Yahoo
News Article (12/17/04)
Natural Resources
Defense Council Response (12/17/04)
Thursday, December 9, 2004
Cordova Planning Commission Reviews Approach to Coastal Plan
Revisions
Elizabeth Benson, Bristol Environmental & Engineering Services
Corporation, presented an overview of the Cordova Coastal Program,
the program amendment process
and
the
schedule.
The
focus
of
the
meeting
was
wording for enforceable policies.
The Planning Commission continues
to support a focus
on Eyak Lake. We plan on having draft policy language for them to review in
late December or
early January.
Wednesday, December 1, 2004
Juneau Wetlands Review Board and Planning Commission
Will
Consider Changes to Coastal Management
At work-sessions on Monday December 6th and Tuesday December 7th, Board
members and Planning Commissioners will get their first detailed look
at what the recent changes to the State’s Coastal Management Program
will mean for the enforceable policies of the Juneau Coastal Management
Plan and Wetlands Management Plan. A first
draft of policies revised
by LaRoche+Associates to comply with the new laws will be presented.
Tuesday, November 30, 2004
Gabrielle LaRoche Interviewed by the Alaska Public Radio About
Changes
to the Coastal Management Program in the MatSu Borough
November
19th, Alaska Public Radio Network Online
Monday, November 29, 2004
LaRoche + Associates has been retained by the City of
Cordova to complete the coastal plan amendment. They will
be assisted by Bristol Environmental & Engineering Services Incorporated.
Elizabeth Benson, Senior Planner with BEESC, will hold a kick-off meeting
with
the Cordova
Planning Commission on December 9th at 7 p.m. noon at City Hall.
For more information, contact Elizabeth at 907-743-9339 or ebenson@beesc.com
Monday, November 29, 2004
New Resource for Alaska Coastal Planners from LaRoche+Associates
This resource was
produced for the Alaska Coastal Management Program and is intended for
use by coastal districts in researching topics related to coastal management
standards and district policies. You can take a look at this resource in
PDF format on our web site on the resources
page.
Thursday, November 15, 2004
Kenai Peninsula Borough Planning Commission Will Consider Changes to
Coastal Management
At a meeting to be held in Soldotna on Monday November 22nd, Planning
Commissioners will get their first detailed look at what the recent changes
to the State’s Coastal Management Program will mean for the enforceable
policies of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Plan. A first
draft of policies revised by LaRoche+Associates to comply with the
new laws is on the agenda.
Gabrielle of LaRoche+Associates is scheduled to attend both the November 22 and December 13th Planning Commission meetings. Required revisions will be ongoing through January. A Public Hearing Draft is anticipated to be released for comment February 28, 2005.
Thursday, November 11, 2004
OCRM RESPONDS TO STATE’S
ACMP AMENDMENT SUBMITTAL
The federal Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management's (OCRM)
November 4 response to the Department of Natural Resources’ Description
of The Alaska Coastal Management Program, As Amended (the “Amendment”)
is posted on the ACMP web page: http://www.alaskacoast.state.ak.us/OCRM/OCRMresponse.htm
This information will be used to determine if the statutory and regulatory changes made to the ACMP meet the minimum federal standards for a coastal management program.
Wednesday, November 10, 2004
LAKE AND PENINSULA BOROUGH PLANNING COMMISSION CONSIDERS
CHANGES TO COASTAL MANAGEMENT
At a meeting held in at the Borough Offices in King Salmon on Tuesday
November 9th, Planning Commissioners had their first look at what the
recent changes to the State’s Coastal Management Program will mean
for the Lake and Peninsula Borough Plan.
A first draft of policies
revised by LaRoche+Associates to comply with the new laws was examined
in the 3-hour session. “Protection of the resources of Lake
Iliamna is critical at a time when the region is facing large scale mining
development” said Larry Hill, Planning Commissioner from Iliamna. Among
the many productive coastal resources of the region, Lake Iliamna is
home to one of the only two populations of freshwater seals - the other
is Lake Baikal.
The meeting was attended by Planning Commissioners
Richard Sharpe, Trefim Andrews, Larry Hill, Art Woinowsky, and Greg Kingsley;
Borough Manager Jeff Currier, Community Development Coordinator Marv
Smith and Borough Clerk Sheila Bergey. Gabrielle of LaRoche+Associates
will continue to work with the Planning Commission to revise the coastal
management plan with the goal of releasing a Public Hearing Draft for
comment in February, 2005.
Saturday, November 6, 2004
Citizen Advisory Committee to Meet in the MatSu
Bristol Environmental and Engineering Services, Inc. (BEESC) has been retained
by the Matanuska-Susitna Borough to complete the amendment. They will be assisted
by LaRoche and Associates. A Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) is being formed
to
assist
with
plan review. The purpose of the CAC is to provide a forum for discussion of the
various plan
elements. The CAC will hold its first meeting on November 20, 2004, from 10 until
12 noon at the Cottonwood Creek Public Safety Building.
Sunday, October 24, 2004
Aleutians West CRSA checks off another step along the
way to submitting a revised plan next summer.
Gabrielle LaRoche – Project
Manager, Karol Kolehemainen – Program Director, and Harold Gray
- AWCRSA Board Member attended an agency consultation meeting in Anchorage,
October 22. State agency representation included DNR Office of Project
Management and Permitting, DNR Office of Habitat Management and Permitting,
Department of Fish and Game, Department of Commerce, Community and Economic
Development, Department of Environmental Conservation, DNR Division of
Mining Land and Water, and DNR Office of history and Archeology. The
US Army Corps of Engineers was also present.
Tuesday, October 19, 2004
Gabrielle LaRoche Attends Coastal Management Conference in Anchorage
The state is hosting a coastal district workshop in Anchorage
this week at the Westmark Hotel. According to the agenda, topics include
phases of the plan amendment process; grant agreement deliverables; model
chapters:
implementation,
subject uses, proper and improper uses; Coastal Planners
Annotated Bibliography produced by LaRoche+Associates; and
product organization and mapping.
On Friday, the state is organizing a "Resource Fair." State and federal agencies will be available to answer coastal district questions one-on-one about agency authority and resource inventory information.
October 1, 2004
LaRoche+Associates is working with seven coastal districts
to update coastal management plans.
Office/Fax: 360.385.2559 - Cell: 360.531.2458 - Email: Gabrielle@LaRocheandAssociates.com
UPDATED
August 23, 2007